UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 16 June 2025

DNA Analysis in Air India Crash: How Victims Are Identified

June 16, 2025

DNA Identification in Disaster Latest News

Following the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad, authorities are using DNA analysis to identify victims’ remains.
Family members' DNA samples have been collected, and some matches have been made.
Since each person’s DNA is unique (except in identical twins), it serves as the most reliable method for identifying bodies, especially in mass fatality incidents where visual or physical identification is difficult.

About DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the hereditary material in almost all living organisms.
It carries the genetic instructions used in growth, development, functioning, and reproduction.

Structure

DNA is composed of two long strands forming a double helix, made up of repeating units called nucleotides.
Each nucleotide contains a sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases — Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), or Guanine (G). The specific sequence of these bases encodes genetic information.

Location

DNA is primarily located in the nucleus of cells (nuclear DNA), while a small amount is also found in mitochondria (mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).
Nuclear DNA is unique to each individual (except identical twins), whereas mtDNA is inherited maternally and found in multiple copies per cell.

Function

DNA controls cellular functions by coding for proteins, and it passes genetic traits from one generation to the next.

Role of DNA in Identifying Crash/Disaster Victims

In mass fatality events like plane crashes or natural disasters, physical features may be unrecognizable.
DNA becomes the most reliable method of identification in such cases.

Challenges

Decomposition and Damage: Disasters can severely damage or decompose remains, making DNA extraction and profiling challenging.
Contamination: Contamination of samples from other sources can complicate the process.
Time and Resources: The process can be time-consuming and require significant resources, especially for large-scale disasters.

DNA Collection and Storage After a Plane Crash

Ideal Storage Conditions
- DNA survives best in cold, dry environments.
- Samples should be frozen at -20°C or stored in 95% ethanol (for soft tissues).
- Soft tissues degrade faster than hard tissues like bones and teeth, which are more resistant to decomposition.
- Forensic teams prefer bones and teeth as DNA sources due to their protection from environmental damage and decomposition.
Timeline for Sample Collection
- Post-crash recovery and collection can take weeks.
- Example: It took 10 months to collect DNA from victims of the 9/11 attacks due to the scale of destruction.
Importance of Reference Samples
- To match unidentified remains, DNA from biological relatives—especially parents or children—is collected, as they share 50% of their DNA with the victim.

DNA Analysis Methods in Identifying Human Remains

Once samples are collected, DNA is extracted. The quality and condition of the DNA determine which analysis method is used.

Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Analysis

STR analysis examines repeating DNA sequences that vary between individuals.
It is highly accurate for identification and family matching when at least 15 STR regions are analyzed.
Since STRs are found in nuclear DNA, this method requires non-degraded nuclear DNA for effective results.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analysis

Used when nuclear DNA is degraded, mtDNA is easier to recover as it exists in many copies per cell.
Since it’s passed unchanged from mother to all children, identification is done by matching remains with maternal relatives like the mother, siblings, maternal grandmother, or maternal uncles/aunts.

Y Chromosome Analysis

This method examines STRs on the Y chromosome, which is passed from father to son.
It helps identify male victims by matching their DNA with male relatives in the paternal line—such as brothers, paternal uncles, or male cousins.
It is especially useful when close relatives are unavailable for comparison.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) Analysis

SNP analysis is used when DNA is highly degraded. It identifies variations at single base points (A, C, G, or T) in the DNA sequence.
Though less accurate than STR analysis, it can still aid identification using reference samples from personal items like toothbrushes or hairbrushes.

Source: IE | IE | TNM

DNA Identification in Disaster FAQs

Q1: What is DNA's role in disaster victim identification?

Ans: It provides a unique genetic profile for each person, enabling identification when visual or physical recognition isn’t possible.

Q2: Why is DNA from bones and teeth preferred?

Ans: Hard tissues like bones and teeth resist decomposition better, preserving DNA longer in crash or disaster conditions.

Q3: How is STR analysis used in identification?

Ans: STR analysis examines repeating DNA sequences; it's accurate but requires high-quality, non-degraded nuclear DNA.

Q4: When is mitochondrial DNA used?

Ans: mtDNA is used when nuclear DNA is degraded. It’s passed maternally and matched with maternal-line relatives.

Q5: What makes SNP analysis suitable for degraded DNA?

Ans: SNPs detect single base changes, making them useful for highly degraded DNA from personal items like combs or brushes.

MGNREGS Spending Cap: Centre’s Rationale and the Legal Backlash

June 16, 2025

MGNREGS Spending Cap Latest News

The Union Finance Ministry has, for the first time, capped MGNREGS spending at 60% of its annual budget for the first half of FY 2025-26.
Previously exempt due to its demand-driven nature, the scheme has now been brought under the Monthly/Quarterly Expenditure Plan (MEP/QEP), a spending control mechanism introduced in 2017.
- MEP/QEP is a financial tool used by government ministries and departments to track and manage their spending against allocated budgets.
- It helps in forecasting cash flow, monitoring expenditure, and ensuring that spending aligns with budgetary provisions.

Finance Ministry’s Rationale Behind MGNREGS Spending Cap

Chronic Budget Overruns
- Historically, over 70% of the MGNREGS budget gets exhausted by September, prompting supplementary allocations in December, which are usually depleted by January.
Mounting Pending Dues
- In the past five years, year-end pending dues have ranged between ₹15,000 crore and ₹25,000 crore.
- On average, 20% of the next year’s budget goes toward clearing these dues.
Objective of the Spending Cap
- The Finance Ministry aims to regulate cash flow through the MEP/QEP mechanism to prevent early exhaustion of funds and avoid mid-year supplementary allocations.
Current Financial Snapshot (FY 2025-26)
- Budget: ₹86,000 crore
- Released so far: 28%
- Pending dues from FY 25: ₹19,200 crore
- Pending dues from FY 26 (as on June 12): ₹3,262 crore
- Nearly 50% of the budget may go toward clearing past dues alone.

Key Issues with MGNREGS Spending Cap

Fluctuating Rural Work Demand Ignored
- MGNREGS demand varies due to agricultural cycles and weather. Work peaks in April–June and post-Kharif in September.
- However, climate anomalies—like delayed rains or droughts—can increase demand unpredictably.
- Example: In 2023, low rainfall caused a 20% spike in demand in July–August.
  - Karnataka spent over 70% of its budget within six months due to severe drought.
- The fixed expenditure cap fails to account for such contingencies, undermining the scheme’s role as a rural safety net.
Legal Concerns over Statutory Rights
- MGNREGS is not a discretionary welfare scheme; it is backed by law (MGNREG Act, 2005) and guarantees employment as a legal right.
- Unlike schemes such as PM-KISAN, which can be altered by governments, rights-based programmes limit executive discretion.
- Capping expenditure limits the state's ability to honour a legal guarantee of work on demand, violating the core mandate of the Act.
Constitutional and Judicial Safeguards
- Courts have consistently held that financial constraints cannot be used to justify non-fulfilment of statutory or constitutional obligations.
Key judgments
- Swaraj Abhiyan v Union of India (2016)
- Municipal Council, Ratlam v Vardhichand (1980)
- Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity v State of W.B. (1996)
- These rulings reinforce the principle that the government cannot evade its duties—especially in welfare laws—on the grounds of budgetary limitations.

Lack of Clarity and Legal Risks in MGNREGS Spending Cap

No Clarity Post-Spending Cap
- The government has not specified what will happen once the 60% ceiling is reached. This creates two problematic possibilities:
  - States may deny employment despite genuine demand.
  - Workers may continue working but face indefinite wage delays.
  - Both scenarios risk violating statutory provisions of the MGNREG Act.
Violation of Legal Entitlements
- The cap risks breaching key rights under the law:
  - Section 3: Right to employment within 15 days of demand.
  - Schedule II, Para 29: Right to receive wages within 15 days of work completion.
Ongoing Issues Already Exist
- Wage delays, non-payment of unemployment allowance, and inadequate compensation for delays are already common in MGNREGS.
- The Supreme Court has noted these systemic failures.
- The spending cap may worsen these problems rather than resolve them.
Undermining the Act’s Purpose
- While aiming to manage fiscal pressure, the Finance Ministry’s move weakens the core intent of the MGNREG Act — to provide timely, legally guaranteed employment and payment during rural distress.

Source: IE | ET

MGNREGS Spending Cap FAQs

Q1: Why did the Centre cap MGNREGS spending?

Ans: To prevent early budget exhaustion and reduce year-end dues by controlling fund release through MEP/QEP limits.

Q2: How does demand fluctuate in MGNREGS?

Ans: Work demand changes seasonally and rises during rural distress, which fixed caps fail to accommodate.

Q3: What legal issue does the spending cap raise?

Ans: It violates the MGNREG Act, which legally guarantees employment and timely payment under statutory obligations.

Q4: How have courts ruled on such obligations?

Ans: Courts have stated financial constraints can’t justify ignoring legal or constitutional duties, citing landmark welfare-related judgments.

Q5: What happens when the spending cap is reached?

Ans: Lack of clarity may lead to work denial or delayed wages, both violating workers’ statutory rights under the Act.

SEZ Norms Relaxed to Boost India’s Semiconductor and Electronics Manufacturing

June 16, 2025

SEZ Rules for Semiconductor Manufacturing

SEZ Reforms Latest News

The Central government has relaxed key rules related to Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to further encourage the domestic manufacture of semiconductors and electronics.

Introduction

In a strategic push to localise high-tech manufacturing, India has amended key provisions of its Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Rules, 2006.
These reforms primarily target the semiconductor and electronics component manufacturing sectors, which are crucial for India’s ambitions of technological self-reliance and reduced import dependence.
Notified by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in June 2025, the new rules mark a significant shift in India’s industrial policy approach, particularly given post-pandemic supply chain disruptions and rising global digital demand.

Significance of Semiconductors and Electronics Manufacturing

Semiconductors are the foundational technology powering modern electronics, from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and smart appliances.
With increasing digitisation and the rise of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), semiconductors have become central to economic and national security.
India, like many other countries, became acutely aware of its import vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic when semiconductor shortages disrupted key industries.
Given that China accounted for around 35% of global semiconductor manufacturing in 2021, countries including India have sought to de-risk their supply chains through domestic production.

Key Changes in SEZ Rules

The recent amendments in the SEZ framework aim to reduce regulatory burdens and attract capital-intensive, technology-oriented investments.
Reduction in Land Requirement (Rule 5 Amendment):
- The minimum land requirement for SEZs focused on semiconductors or electronic components has been slashed from 50 hectares to just 10 hectares.
- This reform facilitates smaller yet high-value investments by allowing firms to avail SEZ benefits such as duty-free imports and tax exemptions without the need for large land parcels.
Easing of Encumbrance Norms (Rule 7 Amendment):
- SEZs no longer need to have “encumbrance-free” land if the land is mortgaged or leased to Central/State governments or their agencies.
- This is especially significant in India, where legal land records and title clearances often delay industrial development.
Domestic Sales Permitted (Rule 18 Amendment):
- Units in semiconductor and electronics SEZs are now allowed to sell in the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) after paying applicable duties.
- Earlier, SEZs were exclusively export-oriented. The new rule provides flexibility amid global trade uncertainties and boosts domestic supply chains.
Revised Net Foreign Exchange (NFE) Calculations (Rule 53 Amendment):
- Goods received and supplied on a free-of-cost basis can now be included in NFE calculations and assessed using customs valuation rules.
- This is particularly helpful for industries like semiconductor manufacturing that often involve high-cost prototypes and design iterations.

Early Impact and Industry Response

The reforms have already started to bear fruit. The Board of Approval for SEZs has cleared two major proposals:
- Micron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt. Ltd. will establish a semiconductor manufacturing SEZ over 37.64 hectares in Sanand, Gujarat, with an investment of Rs. 13,000 crore.
- Hubballi Durable Goods Cluster Pvt. Ltd. (Aequs Group) will set up an electronics component SEZ in Dharwad, Karnataka, spanning 11.55 hectares, with an investment of Rs. 100 crore.
These investments signal a shift in India’s manufacturing landscape and align with larger initiatives like the Semicon India Programme (Rs. 76,000 crore outlay), aimed at building a complete semiconductor ecosystem.

Challenges in Execution

Skilled Workforce: Semiconductor manufacturing requires highly trained professionals, which India is still developing at scale.
Infrastructure Readiness: High-tech units need stable power, clean rooms, and water-intensive facilities, logistics that require substantial state support.
Global Competition: Other countries, including the U.S., Taiwan, and South Korea, are also rolling out incentives. India must ensure competitiveness in its policy offerings.

Strategic Importance and Future Outlook

India’s SEZ reforms are not isolated but part of a broader national effort to position the country as a trusted global hub for electronics manufacturing.
The flexibility offered through SEZs, coupled with Production Linked Incentives (PLI), reflects a strategic understanding that manufacturing capability in semiconductors and electronics is essential for both economic growth and national resilience.
By reducing regulatory friction, allowing domestic sales, and facilitating faster approvals, India is making itself a more attractive destination for global investors looking to diversify from traditional supply chains.

Source : TH | PIB

India’s SEZ Reforms FAQs

Q1: What are the recent SEZ rule changes for semiconductor manufacturing?

Ans: The SEZ land requirement has been reduced to 10 hectares, and domestic sales are now permitted after duty payment.

Q2: Why is the encumbrance-free clause relaxed under SEZ norms?

Ans: It was eased to address delays caused by legal complexities in land title clearances.

Q3: Which companies have received approvals under the revised SEZ rules?

Ans: Micron Semiconductor and Hubballi Durable Goods Cluster (Aequs Group) have received approvals for setting up SEZs.

Q4: How will the revised rules benefit domestic markets?

Ans: By allowing SEZs to sell locally, India ensures a stable domestic supply of critical electronic components.

Q5: What broader programs support India’s semiconductor ambitions?

Ans: India’s efforts are backed by the ₹76,000 crore Semicon India Programme launched in 2022.